In this blog post, we’ll review some easy ways to detect air leaks in your home that could be costing you money on your energy bills and negatively affecting your home’s comfort. Contact Wagner for more advice and service.

Why is sealing air leaks so important?

Air leaks inside a home account for around 10 to 30 percent of energy costs. The leaks often come from the cracks and openings inside the windows and doors. Air can also leak through the floor boards and electrical outlets.

The air leaks inside the house can make the HVAC system to work harder when cooling and heating the room, resulting in increased bills and reduced life of the system.

Detecting and solving air leaks inside the house is important as it can save you a lot of headaches in the long run. The cost and effort involved in sealing the house will be worth it in the end. You will have to face fewer major repairs and reduced energy bills resulting in great cost savings in the long run.

Here are some tips that can help you in detecting air leaks inside the house.

1. The hand test

You can use your hand to detect leaks inside the house. The hand test can help in discovering large drafts coming from the holes around the doors or windows. To find out the air leak, you should place the hands across the edges of windows, doors, air vents and fans in every room of the house. If you feel air on your hand, then it indicates you have an air leak.

2. The candle test

Another way to detect leaks inside the house is through a candle test. Turn off the air condition or heater and place a lighted candle near areas of potential leaks such as near light fixtures, electrical outlets, crown moldings, baseboards, and phone jacks. If the light flickers slightly when you place the candle near the area of potential leak, there might be an air leak.

3. Depressurize the house

This test can be performed when the day is cold and windy. Shut down the furnace and close all the doors and windows. Now, turn on all the fans in the house. Next, you should walk around the house with a lighted incense stick. You should pass the incense over the door, vents, windows, and other areas of potential leaks. If you see smoke blow into the house or sucked out of the house, you may have a leak.

4. Use ultrasonic air detector

Ultrasonic air detectors can also help you detect the air leaks inside the house. The leak detector can allow you to detect leaks using ultrasound. Just turn the device on and point at potential areas of leak. The device will scan the area that you are pointing and signal whether there is a leak. What’s best about the air leak detector is that it will be able to indicate whether the leaking air is cold or warm.

A qualified technician can perform an energy audit to detect air leaks inside the house. Sealing the air leaks will ensure optimal operation of your heating and cooling device.

Call Wagner to detect air leaks in your home

Apart from sealing the air leaks, you should also keep the HVAC system tuned regularly for optimum performance. If you want to connect with professional technicians for your furnace or air conditioner tune up, you can contact Wagner Mechanical.

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